[NMLUG] Linux GHOST?

[Peter Espen]

> 
> Which makes me ask, why the [expletive deleted] doesn't somebody write
> a Linux version of Ghost? Really. There are twenty different MP3
> player apps, but nothing to clone an HDD.
> 

I know this has been mentioned already, but perhaps the reason is because
with Linux ghosting/cloning a drive is so easy to do with fdisk and dd.

I have successfully cloned Windows 2000 and Windows XP drives with fdisk
and dd, even when I was cloning to new partitions that were different
sizes than the originals.  I've used fidsk and dd to clone hybrid drives
that are dual boot and contain both Windows XP and linux OSs.  I've used
dd to restore the master boot blocks on a Windows XP drive and to copy the
master boot blocks from one drive to another.  I've used fdisk and dd
to clone drives the Norton Ghost failed miserably on.  I've used fdisk and
dd to move a linux installation a different location on a new drive leaving
enought room a the beginning of the new drive to clone a Windows XP OS to
the drive.  I guess it's clear by now, that fdisk and dd taken together 
are a superior ghost.  What's great is that fdisk and dd are available on
every bootable linux (redhat and Suse) that I have and I can easliy boot
the CDs into a "maintanance Linux" that's independant of what's on the
hard drives for ghosting fun and ease.